Our most recent rating on this promise, in January 2016, was In the Works. That's when Gov. Scott Walker announced a series of higher education initiatives, including two bills sponsored by Republican lawmakers involving grants.

One bill was to increase the needs-based Wisconsin Grants program for technical college students by $500,000 in 2016-'17 and by $500,000 in 2017-'18. It became law in March 2016.

The other bill was to provide $130,000 to University of Wisconsin System two-year colleges and $320,000 to technical colleges to provide emergency grants to help needy students facing difficulties to remain in school. This bill also became law in March 2016.

Our rating

Walker promised to increase higher education grants for certain students and two bills he signed into law during his second term did so. One increases grants to students who suffer financial emergencies and the other increases grants to technical college students. We rate this a Promise Kept.

New proposal unveiled, awaits legislative action

One of the promises Gov. Scott Walker made while campaigning for re-election in 2014 was this one:

"Commit to increasing higher education grants so more students can afford college and target these investments in high demand fields of study for students who commit to staying in Wisconsin."

When we checked with Walker's office in late December 2015, there were no initiatives to announce. We rated the promise as Stalled.

But in mid-January 2016, Walker announced a series of higher education initiatives, including two bills sponsored by Republican lawmakers that involve grants.

A Democratic leader criticized the package as not doing enough for student loan borrowers.

On the grant initiatives, one bill would increase the needs-based Wisconsin Grants program for technical college students $500,000 annually, helping an estimated 1,000 students.

The other bill would provide $130,000 to University of Wisconsin System colleges and $320,000 to technical colleges to provide emergency grants to help needy students facing difficulties to remain in school.

No action yet geared toward 'high demand' fields

One of the promises Gov. Scott Walker made while campaigning for re-election in 2014 was this one:

"Commit to increasing higher education grants so more students can afford college and target these investments in high demand fields of study for students who commit to staying in Wisconsin."

To check on the status of this promise, we contacted Walker spokeswoman Laurel Patrick in late December 2015. Patrick said the governor's 2015-'17 state budget increased scholarships for technical college students. But she didn't cite any initiative specifically for students in "high demand" fields who commit to staying in Wisconsin after college.

The governor is expected to announce new legislative initiatives in early 2016 and later he will fashion a 2017-'19 state budget.

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